Bathtub cover



June 23, 1953 R. 'r. GIBB 2,642,580

BATHTUB COVER 7 Filed Afig. 1. 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Robert 71 Gibb INVENTOR.

June 23, 1953 R. T. GIBB 1 1 2,642,580

BATHTUB COVER Fil ed Aug. 1, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 30 126 Robert I Gibb Patented June 23, 1953 UNITED smrss FATENT OFFICE Claims.

This invention relates generally to new and useful improvements in protective covers for plumbing fixtures, and more specifically pertains to a protective cover for bath tubs. I

The primary object of the present invention is the protection of a bath tub during the .period of construction of the building wherein the bath tub is situated.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a bath tub cover which will afford the minimum hindrance to the construction of and the finishing of bath room walls, while continuously protecting the bath tub from inadvertent damage.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a device capable of realizing the foregoing objects, which device will be collapsible, so as to be readily moved from one point of use to another or placed in storage, and which device may be readily placed in or removed from operative relation with respect to a bath tub.

These, together with various ancillaryobjects of the invention which will become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained with the present invention, a preferred embodiment of which has been illustrated by way of example only in the accompanying drawing, where- Figure l is a perspective view of the invention ShOWiIlg the same in use on a bath tub;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the invention, this view showing the same in an opened up condition, and with the concealed positioning cleats shown in dotted outline;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the invention looking from therebelow;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken upon the plane of the section line t-d in Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of one of the extension panels; and,

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional detail view illustrating the nature of the pin and slot guide means provided for the extension panels.

Reference is now made more specifically to the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, and in which the subject matter of the present invention is designated generally at Ill.

The bath tub cover It) includes a generally rectangular shaped top panel I2 that is adapted to overlie the side and end walls of a conventional bath tub designated generally at I4. The top panel 42 is retained in its proper position atop the bath tub I4 by means of a plurality of positioning cleats I6, best shown in Figures-3 and 4, that extend within the hollow interior of the bath tub I4 50 as to abut the walls thereof.

Depending from and hingedly connected to the front edge of the top panel I2, as by hinges I8, is a side panel 2a, which side panel 29 when in the position shown thereof in Figure 1 will protect the major portion of the front of the bath tub It, as will be evident. Since some bath tubs, particularly those of more recentdesign, do not have straight front walls, auxiliary side panels 22 are hingedly connected to the opposite ends of the side panel 20, as byhinges 24, so that the panels 22 constitute horizontal extensions of the side pane120. It will be readily appreciated that the panel 22 may be swung upon the hinges 24 to positions conforming to the contour of the front wall of whatever shaped, bath tub I4 with which the device I0 is used. v v

L-shaped extension panels 25 and 28 are provided for the end and rear edges of the top panel of overlying an end edge of 'the top panel I2,

and the other straight portion thereof overlying the rear edge of the top panel I2. The L-shaped extension panels 26 and 28 are slidable on the top panel 12, and are individually guided for movement along paths parallel to the bi-sector of the angles they define by means of depending dowel pins 30 fixed to the extension plates, which dowel pins 30 are slidablyreceived in the sets of elongated slots 32 and 34 provided respectively for the dowel pins of the extension panels 26 and 28. It will thus be seen that the arrangement is such that the extension panel 26 may be extended from or retracted toward the center of the top panel I2, while the portions of the extension panel 26 overlying the end and rear edges of the top panel I2- are retained in parallelism thereto. Similarly, the extension panel 28 may be extended from or retracted toward the center of the top panel I2.

As will be evident, the bath tub protector I0 may be fabricated from a wide variety of materials, such as plastic materials, however, the same is preferably formed of wood, plywood having been found very effective because of its properties of strength and tendency to resist warping. Those portions of the device which may come in contact with the bath tub I4 may of course be surfaced with a cushioning on non-abrasive surface, not shown, in order to preserve the luster of the surfaces of the bath tub I4, however, such provision has not been found necessary in the use of the device. If desired, pads 36 of rubber or resilient material may be secured to the under side of the top panel [2 adjacent the corners thereof in such such positions as to engage the upper edges of the bath tub [6, so as to safely distribute to the bath tub it any heavy loads placed upon the top panel l2.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in,

the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims;

Having described the invention, claimed as new is:

1. A bath tub protective cover comprising a top panel of substantially rectangular configuration and having front, rear and end edges and a series of slots adjacent said edges, said top panel being adapted to be positioned atop a bath tub and having positioned cleats fixed to its underside that are adapted to project downwardly into the bath tube, a pair of L-shaped extension panels, each of said extension panels being slidably mounted on the top panel and overlying an end edge and the portion of the rear edge adjoining, a side panel depending from and hingedly connected to the front edge of the top panel for vertical swinging movement, and an auxiliary protective side panel hinged to and constituting a horizontal extension of the side panel, lugs depending from the underside of said L-shaped extension panels, said lugs extending through said slots and retaining said extension panels on said top panel.

what is 2. A bath tub protective cover comprising a substantially rectangular top panel including front and end edges, said top panel having a plurality of spaced slots adjacent said front and end edges, extension panels overlying said top '4 overlying said slots, said slots being angularly disposed with respect to said top panel edges and form guide ways for the extension of said extension panels beyond the edges of said top panel.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said extension panels are of L-shape.

4. A bath tub protective cover comprising a. substantially rectangular top panel including front and end edges, said top panel having a plurality of spaced slots adjacent said front and end edges, extension panels overlying said top panel adjacent the front and rear edges thereof, lugs secured to said extension panels and depending from the underside thereof, said lugs being inserted in said slots and said extension panels overlying said slots, the slots on either side of the center line of said top panel being complementarily angled with respect to one another whereby said extension panels are complementarily diagonally slidable on said top panel.

5. A bath tubprotective cover including a substantially rectangular top panel having front and end edges, said top panel having a plurality of spaced slots adjacent the front edge and at least one of the end edges, said slots being angularly disposed with respect to the edges of said panel and extending in the same direction, at least one extension panel resting on said top panel in overlying relation to said slots, lugs de pending from said extension panel and being slidably disposed in said slots, movement of said extension panel simultaneously extending the extension panel over both the front and said one end edge of said top panel.

'ROBERT T. GIBB.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 452,521 Hartmann May 19, 1891 1,570,164 Mayer Jan. 19, 1926 1,588,799 Nilson June 15, 1926 1,861,495 Gould June 7, 1932 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 27,124 Great Britain Dec. 11, 1903 

